The recent terrifying attempted coup in Brazil was cheered on by the same far-right forces that also cheered on the attempted coup against Joe Biden by Donald Trump’s supporters,
also spoke to Rodrigo Nunes, a Brazilian political analyst and author of a recent book on Bolsonarismo, who detailed alarming parallels between what is happening in Brazil and events at the US Capitol, which you can listen to here:
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So are events in Brazil part of a broader attempt by the global far right to overturn democratic elections, and should we all be worried about where this heads next? Please join in the discussion below.
Are there further parallels between the attempted far-right insurrection in Brazil and the US and events elsewhere in the world? What can we learn in the UK from these attempted coups? Let us know what you think
Using the “Strongman” personality cult framework, where the deposed leader feeds his cult disinformation and plays “victim” to incite his followers to action, the parallels are stark … that ousted leaders keep reappearing globally reflects this pattern.
One lesson for the UK is the necessity of prosecution to destroy personality cults.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat wrote: “Prosecution destroys the aura of impunity that authoritarians depend on, and it shows their followers that the leaders they worship are not omnipotent or protected by God but ordinary mortals who are accountable to the law just like everyone else.”
Without accountability the insurrections continue. As we know from my report with Jason Stanley, “Victimhood” and finding someone to blame are key components to incitement. “Either we’re a rule of law country or we’re not,” he said.
The other warning flag for the UK and elsewhere is the creating of an unreality - the big lie etc. In America, Texas leaders do not recognize Joe Biden as a legitimate president.
The denial of reality and the actual attempts to destroy reality are green lights for destruction by cult members. Luckily the UK does not have the massive gun problem America possesses.
I am forever haunted by a line from my first interview with Ruth Ben-Ghiat for Byline Times and that is that the “strongman” never really leave their party’s dna even when removed from power … she used Berlusconi as an example of lasting malignant impact:
“Berlusconi was barred from personally running for office again. But his party, which was under his thumb, continued to do really well. So you don’t really get rid of these people, that’s the problem. They kind of stay in the DNA.”
It's a voter coalition building exercise for the right and explains seemingly disparate coalitions that are built on different issues by e.g. the US GOP modus operandi.
On the Anti-Covid 'Freedom Rallies', DeSmog UK showed a link between climate and Covid science denial by Koch Network in 'How the UK's Climate Science Deniers Turned Their Attention to COVID-19. The coronavirus crisis quickly divided the population between those putting their trust in public health experts and others quick to question the science.' (Zac Derler, 10 Aug '22).
Difficult to parse through noise and seemingly unrelated, but in Australia clear linkage between anti-vaxxers, Covid & climate science denial. Promoted indirectly via Koch Network 'think tanks' freedom of speech etc. and covered by NewsCorp inc. a 'journalist' embedded (& Rebel News too), 'worker' cosplay with a large and 'tasty' street demonstration (lots of far/alt right language), of course directed at a centrist Labor govt. in Melbourne/Victoria (how many govts. of the right were subjected to the same?).
Not only are key figure of the 'right' in Australia linked to NewsCorp & related media, Koch think tanks, Tanton nativism, white Christian nationalism, plus the UK, Hungary and the IDU International Democratic Union; innumerable manifestations that are seemingly unrelated.
Why? To denigrate and/or bypass science, research, innovations and analysis, then encourage people to trust their gut instincts and beliefs, including platforming of Christianity....
Like the US Freedom Caucus has support links or support of Koch Network, the latter's influence is very much transnational whether Hungary, Anglosphere etc., starting with their global Atlas Network think tanks seeded from the UK IEA (Atlas online directory is now only accessible via WayBack Machine due to many embarrassing links being found couple of years ago....).
That is such a great point. I have been trying to find a Hungary expert who can tell me what was happening in Hungarian politics in 2009 because it sounds like the kind of chaos we are enduring in congress in the US that is meant to pave the way for authoritarian capture. So much of what extremists in GOP are doing match Orban playbook and yes the money stretches transnationally.
On another strong man regime in Hungary, why 2009? Nonetheless, think you may have an inhouse expert who has written already and able to research? https://bylinetimes.com/author/szabolcspanyi/
Something whiffy, like Brazil, US, UK etc. around a Hungarian govt. think tank, the Danube Inst., not included in Atlas network but partners all are in via UK &/or US, while former Thatcher aide heads it and an Oz journalist did great article, which represents everything wrong about Anglosphere RW grifters.....
US conservative Anne Applebaum called out Inst. 'visitors' 3 April due to support from PM 'mini Putin' Orban; UK Trade Advisor, former Oz PM, who orbits Koch thinks and Murdoch media i.e. Tony Abbott's advisor was a 'visitor' and quickly disappeared from their website (rumoured or alleged that he is a spy, known by some Twitter followers as '007'...he is on right in image in article, while UK's Oz immigration 'great replacement' reviewer Downer, on left).
Me thinks it's the other way round, e.g. Orban's party consulted with GOP trained electoral advisors recommended by Netanyahu in '99, now deceased Arthur Finkelstein* & Birnbaum (Israel Times & Hungarian Spectrum) who were allegedly responsible for cooking up the anti-semitic, Islamophobic and 'great replacement' or eugenics based 'Soros Conspiracy'; gave white Christian nationalists a 'bob each way'.
* Finkelstein was foreign, Jewish, gay and married to his partner living in Vienna, but got on very well with Orban who apparently called him 'Finky'.
It’s seems that the far right is getting support from every right thinking country and how can it be demolished? As Ireland has now got far right fanatics stirring up trouble for refugees with disinformation videos it must be stopped we are a peaceful country but these wacos are making look like we are unwelcoming!
Hey everyone. I believe it's simultaneously democracy and our habitable planet at stake. don't think the assault on democracy is coincidental. This info from the Volts podcast (on Substack) has been troubling me since I first heard it a few weeks ago and it's entirely connected to the right wing movements with their fascist/authoritarian tendencies. Here's the link: https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-right-wing-groups-behind-renewable#details. For powerful elements (individuals and corporations, even nations) that have decided to thwart, manipulate, delay or determine 'how' the world responds to the climate emergency, wresting power from democracies is an essential step. Meanwhile having corporate influence on governments is an old method still being put to good use. But it's not enough to have 'their' guys in power. They need to have unhinged folks detached from reason who can't be persuaded by logic and science, folks who don't believe in democracy, good old fashioned authoritarians, so there is no risk they can be removed.
The podcast I linked to above, shows how in the US, the response to the IRA which opens the door to investing in green energy, has been what appear to be grassroots community lobbies/pressure groups
mobilising AGAINST the transition from fossil fuels. They aren't spontaneous. Communities are literally being groomed by vested interests to have certain fears and adopt certain positions. It's been brilliantly thought out from the legislative point of view and is part of the current strategy of DELAY re the transition.
It's my reasonable belief that the forces fighting the transition are either the same as, or in league with, forces fighting democracy usually in the name of 'freedom' and 'patriotism.'
For the sake of both our habitable planet and our democracies, we must find an equally organised way to override these nefarious influences. The folks they are targeting are not 'other' but our well-meaning fellow citizens. Ideally, we should elect a government willing and able to recognise the nature of the problem.
These nefarious forces understand the power that lies with large numbers of people united in their conviction about something. And they are responding to the growing numbers of people concerned about the climate emergency and the failures of the neo-liberal model by planting and nurturing seeds intended to undermine climate movements and democratic movements for challenging the status quo.
I'm almost certain that these forces are already mobilising in the UK, so that once there is a change of government with a greener vision and more urgent plans for implementation, communities will be protesting vociferously. Hope I'm wrong. But we need to be pro-active and not find ourselves looking to close the stable after the horse has bolted.
I've read it. In the US, the disabling of the democratic machine is shocking. And what's bizarre is that they seem to be making rules to facilitate this disabling legally. Even the new rules about ID requirements in the UK (initiated without any history of significant voter fraud), though on the surface not radical or unprecedented, could leave a lot of willing voters without a vote. Last year I attended a local event hosted by an organisation run by people who were active in pushing for Brexit. The invited guests were members of two well-known and very public facing UK thinktanks. The nature of what passed for 'discussion' got me thinking. The guests were propagandists preaching to the choir. It occured to me that perhaps this was how Brexit was won. Maybe one tool in the kit was these local groups where people could have misinformation and disinformation reinforced in a private setting. Here's the piece I wrote about it: https://open.substack.com/pub/thefriendlyradicalnextdoor/p/the-fossilized-thinking-of-the-men?r=3svb8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
IMO what we observe now on climate science denial etc. goes back to the fossil fueled Club of Rome in '70s (global warming due to carbon was known); sponsored by VW (Porsche), Fiat (Agnelli) & hosted on the Rockefeller Estate (Standard Oil/Exxon); both synthesising and masking old interests and ideology i.e. green washed.
Like a pseudoscience 'line in the sand' which launched and/or promoted further old tropes as new rope i.e. eugenics masquerading as science, which we observe now in media & selected business faculties..... used and presented as science to deflect from fossil fuels by blaming humanity for environmental 'hygiene' issues through immigration and population growth upsetting the 'natural or optimum balance' (for the top people....).
Included 'Limits to Growth' (Meadows, Randers et al.), 'The Population Bomb' (fossil fueled ZPG continues as 'Tanton Network'), 'Gaia Theory' (Lovelock), 'Steady State Economy' i.e. autarky (Herman Daly) etc., presented by 'thinkers' and accepted by media, still, at face value; eugenics for the 1% because if science they could be tested, but they are more sci-fi?
The difference now is that the Rockefellers divested their ownership in fossil fuels several years ago; earlier Charles and David Koch had seemed to become more publicly and privately active in playing a long game of influence taking over the mantle?
For better understanding of US, Anglosphere and global strategy, Jane Mayer 'Dark Money: 'The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right' (2017) and Nancy MacLean 'Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America'; both do informed and elaborative presentations found on YouTube.
Brilliant and awful what Rodrigo Nunes says about the push to expand guns access in Brazil. That is our plight in America. More guns then people. Also his point on anti-intellectualism, which is fascism 101
“Late Sunday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of the governor of Brasilia for 90 days, accusing him, and the district’s head of public security, of abetting the unprecedented attack on the country’s capital.”
given that in 1963 the USA and U.K. helped overthrow a democratic government and instal a military dictatorship that lasted 21 years I’d say the much bigger threat to democracy are those people from countries that helped with the successful coup opining on this without even looking up the slightest bit of Brazilian history first, not a few hours of rioting on a Sunday when parliament was shut. The real threat to democracy is deliberate ignorance of the past.
Also a much bigger threat to democracy is the impact of money. Be it the US where only incredibly rich people with oligarch friends can be president to Sir Keir’s recent reported dodgy money acceptance as membership income falls. A pretence that this is a big thing seems like a distraction tactic.
This new study on Bolsonaro supporters concludes that "populism" is just a convenient repackaging for far-right and anti-democratic
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261379421001463
That's looks really interesting
Are there further parallels between the attempted far-right insurrection in Brazil and the US and events elsewhere in the world? What can we learn in the UK from these attempted coups? Let us know what you think
Using the “Strongman” personality cult framework, where the deposed leader feeds his cult disinformation and plays “victim” to incite his followers to action, the parallels are stark … that ousted leaders keep reappearing globally reflects this pattern.
One lesson for the UK is the necessity of prosecution to destroy personality cults.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat wrote: “Prosecution destroys the aura of impunity that authoritarians depend on, and it shows their followers that the leaders they worship are not omnipotent or protected by God but ordinary mortals who are accountable to the law just like everyone else.”
Without accountability the insurrections continue. As we know from my report with Jason Stanley, “Victimhood” and finding someone to blame are key components to incitement. “Either we’re a rule of law country or we’re not,” he said.
https://bylinetimes.com/2022/11/03/the-american-midterms-this-might-be-the-last-election-where-your-vote-matters/
The other warning flag for the UK and elsewhere is the creating of an unreality - the big lie etc. In America, Texas leaders do not recognize Joe Biden as a legitimate president.
The denial of reality and the actual attempts to destroy reality are green lights for destruction by cult members. Luckily the UK does not have the massive gun problem America possesses.
I am forever haunted by a line from my first interview with Ruth Ben-Ghiat for Byline Times and that is that the “strongman” never really leave their party’s dna even when removed from power … she used Berlusconi as an example of lasting malignant impact:
“Berlusconi was barred from personally running for office again. But his party, which was under his thumb, continued to do really well. So you don’t really get rid of these people, that’s the problem. They kind of stay in the DNA.”
https://bylinetimes.com/2020/12/28/strongmen-how-a-crisis-in-masculinity-paved-the-way-for-fascism/
It's a voter coalition building exercise for the right and explains seemingly disparate coalitions that are built on different issues by e.g. the US GOP modus operandi.
On the Anti-Covid 'Freedom Rallies', DeSmog UK showed a link between climate and Covid science denial by Koch Network in 'How the UK's Climate Science Deniers Turned Their Attention to COVID-19. The coronavirus crisis quickly divided the population between those putting their trust in public health experts and others quick to question the science.' (Zac Derler, 10 Aug '22).
Difficult to parse through noise and seemingly unrelated, but in Australia clear linkage between anti-vaxxers, Covid & climate science denial. Promoted indirectly via Koch Network 'think tanks' freedom of speech etc. and covered by NewsCorp inc. a 'journalist' embedded (& Rebel News too), 'worker' cosplay with a large and 'tasty' street demonstration (lots of far/alt right language), of course directed at a centrist Labor govt. in Melbourne/Victoria (how many govts. of the right were subjected to the same?).
Not only are key figure of the 'right' in Australia linked to NewsCorp & related media, Koch think tanks, Tanton nativism, white Christian nationalism, plus the UK, Hungary and the IDU International Democratic Union; innumerable manifestations that are seemingly unrelated.
Why? To denigrate and/or bypass science, research, innovations and analysis, then encourage people to trust their gut instincts and beliefs, including platforming of Christianity....
Like the US Freedom Caucus has support links or support of Koch Network, the latter's influence is very much transnational whether Hungary, Anglosphere etc., starting with their global Atlas Network think tanks seeded from the UK IEA (Atlas online directory is now only accessible via WayBack Machine due to many embarrassing links being found couple of years ago....).
That is such a great point. I have been trying to find a Hungary expert who can tell me what was happening in Hungarian politics in 2009 because it sounds like the kind of chaos we are enduring in congress in the US that is meant to pave the way for authoritarian capture. So much of what extremists in GOP are doing match Orban playbook and yes the money stretches transnationally.
On another strong man regime in Hungary, why 2009? Nonetheless, think you may have an inhouse expert who has written already and able to research? https://bylinetimes.com/author/szabolcspanyi/
Something whiffy, like Brazil, US, UK etc. around a Hungarian govt. think tank, the Danube Inst., not included in Atlas network but partners all are in via UK &/or US, while former Thatcher aide heads it and an Oz journalist did great article, which represents everything wrong about Anglosphere RW grifters.....
US conservative Anne Applebaum called out Inst. 'visitors' 3 April due to support from PM 'mini Putin' Orban; UK Trade Advisor, former Oz PM, who orbits Koch thinks and Murdoch media i.e. Tony Abbott's advisor was a 'visitor' and quickly disappeared from their website (rumoured or alleged that he is a spy, known by some Twitter followers as '007'...he is on right in image in article, while UK's Oz immigration 'great replacement' reviewer Downer, on left).
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-australia-s-conservatives-are-finding-friends-in-hungary-20190924-p52uim.html
An excellent English resource is https://hungarianspectrum.org/ and I know of a writer in Oz who has done some articles on these transnational links inc. IDU https://muckrack.com/lucy-hamilton/articles that now inc. Hungary
Thank you!
Me thinks it's the other way round, e.g. Orban's party consulted with GOP trained electoral advisors recommended by Netanyahu in '99, now deceased Arthur Finkelstein* & Birnbaum (Israel Times & Hungarian Spectrum) who were allegedly responsible for cooking up the anti-semitic, Islamophobic and 'great replacement' or eugenics based 'Soros Conspiracy'; gave white Christian nationalists a 'bob each way'.
* Finkelstein was foreign, Jewish, gay and married to his partner living in Vienna, but got on very well with Orban who apparently called him 'Finky'.
It’s seems that the far right is getting support from every right thinking country and how can it be demolished? As Ireland has now got far right fanatics stirring up trouble for refugees with disinformation videos it must be stopped we are a peaceful country but these wacos are making look like we are unwelcoming!
Thank you for this Intel. So sorry to hear
The directory is here https://www.atlasnetwork.org/partners but one can no longer click through, but still on the WayBack archive; Hungary.....
Thank u!
Hey everyone. I believe it's simultaneously democracy and our habitable planet at stake. don't think the assault on democracy is coincidental. This info from the Volts podcast (on Substack) has been troubling me since I first heard it a few weeks ago and it's entirely connected to the right wing movements with their fascist/authoritarian tendencies. Here's the link: https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-right-wing-groups-behind-renewable#details. For powerful elements (individuals and corporations, even nations) that have decided to thwart, manipulate, delay or determine 'how' the world responds to the climate emergency, wresting power from democracies is an essential step. Meanwhile having corporate influence on governments is an old method still being put to good use. But it's not enough to have 'their' guys in power. They need to have unhinged folks detached from reason who can't be persuaded by logic and science, folks who don't believe in democracy, good old fashioned authoritarians, so there is no risk they can be removed.
The podcast I linked to above, shows how in the US, the response to the IRA which opens the door to investing in green energy, has been what appear to be grassroots community lobbies/pressure groups
mobilising AGAINST the transition from fossil fuels. They aren't spontaneous. Communities are literally being groomed by vested interests to have certain fears and adopt certain positions. It's been brilliantly thought out from the legislative point of view and is part of the current strategy of DELAY re the transition.
It's my reasonable belief that the forces fighting the transition are either the same as, or in league with, forces fighting democracy usually in the name of 'freedom' and 'patriotism.'
For the sake of both our habitable planet and our democracies, we must find an equally organised way to override these nefarious influences. The folks they are targeting are not 'other' but our well-meaning fellow citizens. Ideally, we should elect a government willing and able to recognise the nature of the problem.
These nefarious forces understand the power that lies with large numbers of people united in their conviction about something. And they are responding to the growing numbers of people concerned about the climate emergency and the failures of the neo-liberal model by planting and nurturing seeds intended to undermine climate movements and democratic movements for challenging the status quo.
I'm almost certain that these forces are already mobilising in the UK, so that once there is a change of government with a greener vision and more urgent plans for implementation, communities will be protesting vociferously. Hope I'm wrong. But we need to be pro-active and not find ourselves looking to close the stable after the horse has bolted.
Wow so much to unpack here and so right on. I recall writing this piece for Byline and feeling a chill go through my bones when it became clear that fossil fuel interests were so tied to Kremlin disruptions. https://bylinetimes.com/2021/07/02/end-game-why-the-council-for-national-policys-machine-is-threat-to-u-s-democracy-in-2022/
😢 thank you. I’ll look at your piece
I've read it. In the US, the disabling of the democratic machine is shocking. And what's bizarre is that they seem to be making rules to facilitate this disabling legally. Even the new rules about ID requirements in the UK (initiated without any history of significant voter fraud), though on the surface not radical or unprecedented, could leave a lot of willing voters without a vote. Last year I attended a local event hosted by an organisation run by people who were active in pushing for Brexit. The invited guests were members of two well-known and very public facing UK thinktanks. The nature of what passed for 'discussion' got me thinking. The guests were propagandists preaching to the choir. It occured to me that perhaps this was how Brexit was won. Maybe one tool in the kit was these local groups where people could have misinformation and disinformation reinforced in a private setting. Here's the piece I wrote about it: https://open.substack.com/pub/thefriendlyradicalnextdoor/p/the-fossilized-thinking-of-the-men?r=3svb8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
IMO what we observe now on climate science denial etc. goes back to the fossil fueled Club of Rome in '70s (global warming due to carbon was known); sponsored by VW (Porsche), Fiat (Agnelli) & hosted on the Rockefeller Estate (Standard Oil/Exxon); both synthesising and masking old interests and ideology i.e. green washed.
Like a pseudoscience 'line in the sand' which launched and/or promoted further old tropes as new rope i.e. eugenics masquerading as science, which we observe now in media & selected business faculties..... used and presented as science to deflect from fossil fuels by blaming humanity for environmental 'hygiene' issues through immigration and population growth upsetting the 'natural or optimum balance' (for the top people....).
Included 'Limits to Growth' (Meadows, Randers et al.), 'The Population Bomb' (fossil fueled ZPG continues as 'Tanton Network'), 'Gaia Theory' (Lovelock), 'Steady State Economy' i.e. autarky (Herman Daly) etc., presented by 'thinkers' and accepted by media, still, at face value; eugenics for the 1% because if science they could be tested, but they are more sci-fi?
The difference now is that the Rockefellers divested their ownership in fossil fuels several years ago; earlier Charles and David Koch had seemed to become more publicly and privately active in playing a long game of influence taking over the mantle?
For better understanding of US, Anglosphere and global strategy, Jane Mayer 'Dark Money: 'The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right' (2017) and Nancy MacLean 'Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America'; both do informed and elaborative presentations found on YouTube.
Brilliant and awful what Rodrigo Nunes says about the push to expand guns access in Brazil. That is our plight in America. More guns then people. Also his point on anti-intellectualism, which is fascism 101
This was such a big deal imo:
“Late Sunday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of the governor of Brasilia for 90 days, accusing him, and the district’s head of public security, of abetting the unprecedented attack on the country’s capital.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/08/bolsonaro-supporters-brazil-congress/
Reveals Lula is aware of how quickly authoritarian capture could occur.
given that in 1963 the USA and U.K. helped overthrow a democratic government and instal a military dictatorship that lasted 21 years I’d say the much bigger threat to democracy are those people from countries that helped with the successful coup opining on this without even looking up the slightest bit of Brazilian history first, not a few hours of rioting on a Sunday when parliament was shut. The real threat to democracy is deliberate ignorance of the past.
Also a much bigger threat to democracy is the impact of money. Be it the US where only incredibly rich people with oligarch friends can be president to Sir Keir’s recent reported dodgy money acceptance as membership income falls. A pretence that this is a big thing seems like a distraction tactic.
Your point about historic context is important. Lula's immediate reaction was informed by brutal history imho
Also true.